Email dated Thursday 17 Nov 2005
INBAR-CIBART
International Training Workshop on
Bamboo Propagation, Management and Harvesting:
Methods, Policy Issues and Strategies
Peechi, Kerala State, India (POSTPONED to 27th February to 5 March 2006)
There has been an overwhelming response to the INBAR-CIBART Training Workshop on Bamboo (Sympodial) Propagation, Management and Harvesting, with expressions of interest far outnumbering the available seats.
However, a number of people have requested a change of date, as the Workshop period is clashing with their previous plans. We are aware that the notice provided was rather short for an international event, though a period of uncertainty caused by natural calamities in India was the main reason for not being able to announce the date earlier. Nevertheless, respecting the request from so many potential participants, we are happy to announce that the workshop has been postponed to February 2006.
Those who have sent registration form need not send it again.
However, they are requested to send the advance payment (US$250 for participants from outside India / Rs 5,000 for participants from India) to confirm participation. Those who have already paid the advance may retain it with us for confirmed registration.
The details are as given below:
Bamboo and rattan (cane) play a significant role in creation of employment and income generation activities in an ecologically sustainable manner. Worldwide trade in these two commodities is currently estimated at US$14 billion per year. Several millions of people in many parts of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean depend on these plants for their livelihood and cash income. Changing socio-economic needs and development options have necessitated interventions that would reposition these traditional sectors so as to maximize benefits to the primary producers and processors, who are mostly poor farmers and artisans.
Training and capacity building are two of the tools that INBAR has been using to equip the people involved in bamboo and rattan sectors with the knowledge and skill sets needed to address the challenges posed by the 21st Century economy. INBAR has been organizing such training and capacity building workshops successfully in China, where INBAR has its headquarters, for some time now, and has started replicating them in other parts of the world.
In view of the persistent demand from various quarters, INBAR and CIBART will be jointly holding international and national training and capacity building workshops in India from 2005 onwards. This is in line with INBAR's commitment to its member countries during the Council meeting held in Beijing in March 2005.
The INBAR-CIBART training program being held at KFRI would focus on propagation and management of the sympodial type of bamboo - the type that forms clumps and grows as a cluster in one spot. A good majority of useful bamboos are sympodial and woody, and are used in industries, and by the communities and artisans for making a wide range of bamboo products. Their propagation, management and harvesting are different from those of monopodial bamboos. India has about 130 species out of which over 100 are of sympodial bamboos belonging to 18 genera.
The workshop aims to impart knowledge and skill sets to people involved in bamboo and rattan sectors, in the fields of production, processing, management, marketing and policy-making. In view of the need to maximizing resource use, the workshop will emphasize the training of trainers, besides focusing of awareness creation for optimizing income and employment generation opportunities. The training programme will involve class-room and hands-on sessions, supported by on-field activities and field visits wherever possible.
The topics for the training would include: selection of species; production of planting stock - macro and micro propagation methods; nursery establishment and management including fertilizer application; disease and pest management; plantation establishment; plantation management including, fertilizer application, disease and pest management; harvesting and post harvesting technology (preservative treatments); properties of bamboo species; economics of bamboo cultivation; application of bamboo in modern and traditional industries, etc. The training would also include sessions on policy issues.
INBAR, as an intergovernmental international agency with a focused mandate on bamboo and rattan, has accomplished considerable work in countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
CIBART:
The Centre for Indian Bamboo Resource and Technology (CIBART) was formed in 2002, with the assistance of INBAR, as a non-profit, networked organization dedicated to development of the bamboo sector in India. It serves as a catalyst to the development of bamboo industry in India, particularly in rural areas, undertaking various collaborative livelihood development projects. CIBART consists of professionals who have been associated with the bamboo sector, bringing together respective strengths in various functional areas such as resource management, markets, setting up of enterprises, technology transfer and community development, etc.
KFRI:
The Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) is an institution of Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment. It has been actively involved in research on bamboo taxonomy, diversity and distribution in India. KFRI has been conducting research on various aspects of forestry for the last two decades and doing considerable work on bamboo resource, utilization, management and popularization for commercial exploitation.
The resource persons for the training would be mostly scientists from KFRI.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Kerala State, India:
(http://www.kerala.gov.in/), (http://www.keralatourism.org/)
Kerala is dubbed 'God's Own Country' for its unbroken greenery and breathtaking natural beauty. Situated in the south-west part of India, the state is bordered by the Arabian Sea on the west and the Western Ghats mountain range on the east. It is an educationally advanced state, with the highest rate of literacy among Indian states, and boasts of the best human development indicators in the country. Kerala is also the land of spices, which prompted many sea-faring nations of the past to open regular trade routes to its coast. It is also the repository of Ayurveda (ancient Indian medicine system), the birthplace of Kalaripayattu (a form of martial arts that spawned Karate), the cradle of Kathakali (the dance-drama with captivating costumes and expressive rendition). It is a land much acclaimed for the contemporary nature of its cultural ethos and the high socio-political conscience of its population of 29 million. Kerala accounts for 92% of India's rubber, 70% of coconut, 60% of cassava,
and almost 100% of lemon grass oil production. It is also the single largest producer of banana and ginger, and among the top producers of tea, coir and cashew nut.
The Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) is established as an autonomous institution by the Government of Kerala to undertake research in areas like forestry, biodiversity etc. KFRI is located just about 80 km away from the International Airport at Kochi, and about 20 km east of Thrissur in Central Kerala, India. The main campus extends over an area of 28 ha, part of the picturesque reserve forest of the Peechi Forest Range.
Airport pick up: Nearest airport to reach KFRI is Kochi International Airport, Kerala State. The distance to KFRI from the Airport is around 80 km. The organizers will arrange for airport pickup as per arrival details mentioned by participants on the application form.
Language: Language used in the workshop is English; there will not be any translation service.
Invitation: The official invitation letter will be sent to participants on receipt of the application and advance amount.
Visa regulations: You should obtain appropriate entry visa to India from the Indian diplomatic mission in your country in advance of your trip. Please note that participants are responsible for obtaining the necessary visa and insurance coverage as well as to and fro air tickets.
Accommodation: Accommodation (2 persons per double air-conditioned room) for participants will be inside the KFRI Campus.
Climate: The temperature during February/March in Kerala is approx. 25-30C.
WORKSHOP APPLICATION
International Workshop on Bamboo Propagation, Management and Harvesting:
Methods, Policy Issues and Strategies
Date: 27 February-5 March 2006 (7 days)
Venue: Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI),
Address: Peechi, Thrissur District,
Kerala State, India.
Phone (KFRI): 0091-487-2699061-64 / 2699037
OBJECTIVES:
Introduce participants to hands-on propagation, management and harvesting methods of sympodial bamboo;
Expose participants to product-site-species matching;
Discuss policy issues that confront bamboo resource management;
Elaborate species- and need-specific propagation strategies;
Target group: Agro-forestry practitioners, agro-forestry trainers, CBOs/NGOs in agri business promotion, plantation developers and managers, policy-makers, etc.
Minimum/maximum no. of participants: 15/30
Fee: US$ 800 for participants from outside India; and Rs. 13,000 for participants from India. This includes course fee, course materials, accommodation, food, field visit and local transport. A down payment of US$250 for participants from outside India / Rs. 5,000 for participants from India is required to reserve participation in the workshop.
Mode of payment:
(a) Pay by Bank Draft drawn in favor of the 'International Network for Bamboo and Rattan' payable at New Delhi, India; OR
(b) Telegraphic Transfer to INBAR's bank account in India. Please contact Mr. T.P. Subramony for bank information.
Registration:
Registration for the event is now open; Download application form here. Participants are required to fill in the application form and submit it together with their CV so as to reach us before 31st January 2006 to the attention of Mr. T.P. Subramony (subramony@inbar.int), Resident Manager, INBAR-South Asia Regional Office, OR Mr. Arun Kumar (arun.cibart@gmail.com), Coordinator (Information), CIBART. Please note that seats are limited and registration will be on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Mailing address to which registration fee and the application (if this has not been sent by e-mail) are to be sent to:
Mr. T.P. Subramony
Resident Manager
INBAR-South Asia Regional Office
200 Jor Bagh,
New Delhi 110 003, India;
Tel: +91 (11) 2460 4404, 2460 4434
Fax: +91 (11) 2464 8303
Website: INBAR - www.inbar.int
CIBART - www.cibart.org
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